A MAN with the world's largest video game collection, estimated to be worth £500,000, has put the bumper selection of titles up for sale.

The world's largest computer game collection valued at £500,000 is up for sale[MERCURY]

Michael Thomasson, 43, has a whopping collection of more than 11,000 games and is believed to have spent almost £2,000 a year building it up.

His hoard was announced as a world record in 2012 when Guinness World Records officials counted 10,607 games for 108 platforms.

His collection, which he started as a 12-year-old boy, encompasses vintage consoles like the Colecovision and modern gadgets such as the Playstation 3.

But Mr Thomasson, from New York, has now decided to sell his huge selection of games to help provide a "better life" for his loved ones.

The highest bid for the collection so far is just over £452,000 and there is more than two days left for the auction to run.

Michael Thomasson has a whopping collection of more than 11,000 games [MERCURY]

I want to offer a better life to those I love and care so selling the collection gives me options and opens doors

Michael Thomasson

He said: "I want to offer a better life to those I love and care so selling the collection gives me options and opens doors.

"I'll be selling it as the complete collection together.

"I could break it up, but that would be a major undertaking and I hope the collection stays together as it is a part of video game history.

"The opening price started at a single dollar so anyone can be a part of this historic video game event.

"I would love to see the new owner expand and continue to grow the collection or a museum acquire and preserve it.

"I have no idea how the bidding will end so it'll be a case of waiting until the auction comes to an end - although I think it could make a fantastic Father's Day gift."

In 2012 Guinness World Records officials counted his hoard as 10,607 games [MERCURY]

Mr Thomasson's first computer game was Cosmic Avenger for the Colecovision, which was a present from his grandparents for Christmas.

He entered the record books in December 2012, despite twice selling parts of his collection.

He sold some of the prized computer games in 1989 and in 1998, the latter to help pay for his wedding.

Mr Thomasson is selling his collection to help offer his loved ones a better quality of life [MERCURY]

He said: "My wife's father died when she was three, so when we got married in 1998, we didn't have the traditional father-of-the-bride to help pay for the wedding, so we had to finance most of the festivities ourselves.

"As a result, I sold off complete collections to help fund our marriage - which was worth every penny.

"Thankfully I managed to reacquire most of the games over the years again but one still remains elusive - the aptly named Magical Chase.

"Collecting was my passion - the thrill of the hunt was as fun as playing the games themselves.

"I was collecting retro games long before it became fashionable and long before the internet explosion that made it much easier.

"You can never have enough of what you don't really need."

His collection smashed the previous record held by Richard Lecce, nicknamed 'king of video games' in 2010, who amassed a total of 8,616 titles.